The housekeeper was unharmed, thank God, but her face was pale, her normally immaculate hair disheveled, and there were dark circles under her eyes that showed her lack of sleep.
“Elise?” she said softly, tears welling in her eyes.
Something inside Elise broke. With a sob, she threw herself at Andrea, wrapping her arms around the older woman.
Andrea held her tight and rubbed her back, saying not a word as Elise cried out all the emotion that had built up inside her: her fear for Jamie, for Albie and the others, for the people of the Isles. Her anger at Phillip MacClelland, at King James.
At herself.
But finally, Elise’s sobs subsided, and Andrea pushed her to arm’s length, looking her over critically.
“Are ye all right?” the housekeeper asked. “He didnae hurt ye?”
Elise shook her head. “I’m fine. I don’t think the king would be pleased if Phillip damaged his most prized weapon.” Her tone was full of bitterness and self-recrimination.
“Oh, Elise,” Andrea said, her brow furrowing with worry. “What are we going to do?”
Elise steadied herself, squaring her shoulders. “Well, we are going to start by you telling me exactly what’s been happening here.”
She drew Andrea to the chairs in front of the fireplace. Andrea perched on the end with her hands clasped in her lap. Her grip was so tight that her knuckles had gone white.
“I…I canna believe Phillip could do this,” she began hesitantly. “I’ve known him for years and never did I suspect… How could he betray us all like this? And how could I not have noticed what he was up to?”
“Phillip used magic to hide his activities,” Elise replied. “You never stood a chance. If anyone should have realized, it should have been me. Just another thing I failed at.”
Andrea clasped her hand. “None of that. Without ye, Laird Jamie would be dead or in the king’s clutches right now. Ye’ve failed at nothing.”
Elise wasn’t convinced, but she nodded for Andrea’s sake. “Tell me. How do things stand on Islay?”
Andrea paled. “Not well. The king’s forces now hold Dun Arach and his fleet patrols the coast. They’ve been sending out groups of warriors to all the villages, intimidating everyone into submission. Anyone who shows the slightest dissent is punished.”
“Like Albie and the others, you mean?”
Andrea nodded. “When he figured out what was happening, Albie organized a defense. They fought ferociously to hold Dun Arach against the invaders. And mayhap they would have succeeded, except Phillip used his magic to breach the gates and let them in. Bastard.”
“When Jamie and I escaped, we went to Barra,” Elise said. “Both Barra and Skye have joined us. Jamie will be coming to retake Islay, have no doubt about that. And it’s our job to make sure he finds an Islay ready to rise up and help him.”
A light came into Andrea’s eyes. “What did ye have in mind?”
“For a start, where are Jamie’s ships?”
“Either commandeered by the king’s men or impounded in the harbor. We willnae be able to use them.”
“Damn it. Fine. Then we need to find a way to free Albie and the others, take back Dun Arach, and hold the keep until Jamie arrives. Do you know where they are being held?”
Andrea shook her head. “Phillip restricts my movements. He only let me come to ye because he seems to think it might soften ye towards him to see a familiar face.” A determined expression stole across her features. “But I can find out. Iwillfind out. And I’ll speak to others I can trust as well, tell them to be ready. If Phillip thinks the folk of Islay are just going to roll over and play dead, then he doesnae know us very well after all.”
Elise smiled. For the first time since Phillip’s attack on Barra, she felt some of her tension ease. She wasn’t alone.
She reached out and squeezed the older woman’s hands. “No, he doesn’t. But we’re going to teach him a lesson he won’t forget.”
*
“We need toget over there now!” Jenna snapped. “We’ve spent too much time talking as it is. Who knows what they are doing over on Islay or what Elise is being put through!”
The youngest of the MacFinnan spellweavers glared at everyone seated around the council table. More fiery tempered than Rose but less wild than Elise, Jenna portrayed the characteristics of both of her aunts, and their influence on their niece was plain to see. In the short time he’d known her, Jamie had realized that Jenna was strong-willed and forthright but also thoughtful and considered when she needed to be.
But right now she was up on her feet, fists planted on her hips, glaring around at Cailean’s advisors and ship captains as though they had personally offended her. Like Jamie himself,she was desperate to get over to Islay and help Elise. Like him, she chafed at this delay.
